Tenant checklist England 2026: know your rights at every stage
A statute-anchored checklist covering four phases of every tenancy: before you sign, move-in day, during the tenancy, and moving out. Each item references the law that creates the right.
Before signing: verify the landlord identity, check the EPC rating (must be E or above), and confirm the deposit will go into a government-approved scheme within 30 days.
On move-in day: take timestamped photographs of every room, record all meter readings, and confirm you have received the gas safety certificate, EPC, and How to Rent guide.
During the tenancy: report all repairs in writing, check rent increase notices use the prescribed Section 13 form, and know your right to 24 hours notice before any landlord visit.
Moving out: do a pre-checkout walk-through, photograph every room on the final day, and use the deposit scheme free ADR process if deductions are unfair.
Free checkers
- Deposit checker
Check deposit protection and challenge unfair deductions. - Repairs checker
Check your landlord repair duty and escalation options. - Eviction timeline
See every stage of the eviction process with minimum timeframes.
Related guidance inside this topic
- If your next step turns on landlord repair duties, read overview of tenant rights in England.
- For the dates, forms, and evidence behind section 13 rent increase rules, see rules before and after May 2026 before you respond.
- If this issue overlaps with section 13 rent increase rules, check Renters' Rights Act guide to compare the legal tests.
- For a fuller breakdown of landlord repair duties, use gas safety and eviction guide for the underlying rule set.
- If you need the route-specific rules on deposit protection and deduction disputes, start with Section 21 notice checker so you can check the dates and documents against your own case.
Related articles
- Section 21 notice invalid: reasons and what to do
The defect checklist for legacy Section 21 notices, including deposit, gas safety, licensing, and retaliatory eviction points. - Section 21 abolished: what happens now?
The transition guide for pre-cutoff notices, the 1 May 2026 changeover, and when possession analysis switches to Section 8. - Section 21 validity outcome guides
Index of all 72 outcome guides from the Section 21 checker — grouped by topic: deposit protection, prescribed documents, notice timing, licensing, and retaliatory eviction. - Can my landlord evict me in 2026?
A route-selection guide for tenants trying to distinguish valid possession, informal pressure, and unlawful eviction. - Tenancy deposit protection guide
How the 30-day protection rules, prescribed information, deductions, and penalty claims work.
Common questions
- What should I check before signing a tenancy agreement?
- Verify the landlord identity, check the EPC (must be E or above), confirm the deposit will go into a government-approved scheme within 30 days, read the full agreement, and ensure you will receive a gas safety certificate, How to Rent guide, and the tenancy agreement itself.
- What should I document on move-in day?
- Take timestamped photos and video of every room, record all meter readings, check the inventory and note any discrepancies in writing within 48 hours, test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and verify your deposit is in a government-approved scheme.
- Can my landlord keep my deposit when I move out?
- Only for damages beyond fair wear and tear that are evidenced in the check-out inventory, or for genuine rent arrears. Disputes go through the scheme free ADR process.
Use the interactive checker on getrentersrights.com for the full step-by-step result.